Lower-body garment, notably for participating sports, with a pocket

ABSTRACT

A bottom clothing, in particular for the practice of tennis, including a waist part formed by one or several panels and including an upper end delimiting a waist opening, and a lower end delimiting at least one opening for the passage the user&#39;s legs, and a pocket formed by at least one upper panel mounted on the waist part and covering a portion of the waist part, the pocket being accessible through an opening delimited by the free edge of the at least one upper panel. The pocket opening extends substantially parallel to the waist opening, and is oriented towards the lower end of the waist part. The at least one upper panel and the waist part portion covered by the at least one upper panel are made of compressive materials and have an elasticity, particularly a 50% elongation force, which is different.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of sports clothing, and particularly to the field of bottom clothing with a pocket.

BACKGROUND

Sports, in particular tennis, trousers are known to have a waistband—type pocket that is to say a pocket extending along the waist opening of the trousers.

Thus, document US 2018/206567 describes a sports clothing comprising a pocket positioned along an upper part of the clothing and configured to keep objects stored inside. According to one embodiment, the pocket can be opened from below and disposed at the back, in the upper part of the clothing. The opening of the pocket can be positioned such that the athlete can insert and remove the objects, in particular balls, stored inside.

However, in document US 2018/206567, the design of the pocket and in particular of the front and back panels is particularly complex, in particular in order to allow expansion of the pocket when one or several balls are positioned inside.

There are also other documents describing similar trousers with a back pocket at the waist opening, for example documents U.S. Pat. No. 8,028,345 B2 or U.S. Pat. No. 9,254,010 B2. However, such trousers require an elaborate design to ensure the holding of the ball in the pocket, and are not always aesthetically satisfactory when the pocket is empty.

In any case, it seems that a compromise must be found between the ease of insertion and removal of the ball on the one hand, and the holding of the ball in the pocket during the game on the other hand. Likewise, it is also preferable, from an aesthetic point of view, to keep a pocket which remains pressed against the clothing when it is empty, in particular in the case of clothing made of compressive material.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure aims to solve the different technical problems mentioned above. Particularly, the present disclosure aims to propose a bottom clothing, in particular for the practice of tennis, including a pocket, in particular at the level of the waistband, for placing one or several objects therein, in particular balls, which is simple to manufacture and to use while keeping an aesthetic appearance when the pocket is empty. More specifically, the present disclosure aims to propose a bottom clothing including a pocket, which facilitates the insertion or removal of a ball in/from the pocket while ensuring good holding of the ball in the pocket during the game and the good maintenance of the pocket when it is empty.

Thus, according to one aspect, a bottom clothing, in particular for the practice of a sport and more particularly for the practice of tennis, is proposed. The bottom clothing includes:

-   -   a waist part, forming a pant, formed by one or several panels         and including: an upper end delimiting a waist opening, and a         lower end delimiting at least one, preferably two openings, for         the passage of the user's legs, and     -   a pocket, for example configured to retain at least one object         such as a tennis ball, formed by at least one upper panel         mounted on the waist part and covering a portion, preferably         back portion, of the waist part, the pocket being accessible         through an opening delimited in particular by the free edge of         the at least one upper panel and preferably positioned in a         portion of the bottom clothing forming the waistband.

The pocket opening extends substantially parallel to the waist opening, that is to say substantially horizontally when the bottom clothing is worn by the user, and is oriented towards the lower end of the waist part, or on the side opposite the waist opening, that is to say oriented downwards when the bottom clothing is worn by the user.

The at least one upper panel and the waist part portion covered by the at least one upper panel are made of compressive materials and have an elasticity, particularly a 50% elongation force, which is different. Particularly, the at least one upper panel and the waist part portion have an elasticity in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening, that is to say in the vertical direction when the bottom clothing is worn by the user, which is different.

Thus, the mechanical, and more particularly elastic, properties of the materials forming the pocket of the bottom clothing, in particular the at least one upper panel and the panel(s) of the portion of the waist part covered by the at least one upper panel, are chosen so as to be different from each other. Particularly, the materials of the pocket, that is to say of the upper panel and of the covered portion of the waist part, are chosen with compressive materials which are different, in particular for their elastic properties, in order to obtain the desired deformation properties to facilitate the insertion or removal of an object such as a ball, while ensuring the good holding during the game. A pocket of simple design is then obtained, since formed by the addition of at least one upper panel on the waist part, while providing the user with improved ease of use and performances, in particular for the holding of the ball in the pocket. Finally, the bottom clothing according to the disclosure allows keeping compressive materials, and having a desired aesthetic appearance, even when the pocket is empty.

The bottom clothing can be trousers, for example of the leggings type, a capri, capri pants, shorts, Bermuda shorts or a skirt, with or without integrated boyshorts.

The ratio of the 50% elongation force, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1: 2005 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening and/or in a direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening of the at least one upper panel over that of the portion of the waist part, may be between 1 and 5, and preferably may be between 1.2 and 3.

In other words, the ratio of the 50% elongation force, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1: 2005, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening and/or in a direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening of the at least one upper panel over that of the portion of the waist part, may be greater than 1 and less than or equal to 5, and preferably may be greater than or equal to 1.2 and less than or equal to 3.

It was observed by the applicant that the 50% elongation force included a measurement of the elasticity of the materials which allowed characterizing the panels to favor in order to form a pocket meeting the desired criteria. Particularly, the choice of a difference in 50% elongation force between the material of the waist part and the material of the upper panel allows adjusting the behavior of the pocket, in use, to obtain the desired effect.

The ratio of the 50% elongation force of the at least one upper panel, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1: 2005, in a direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening, on that in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening, may be greater than 1, and preferably may be between 1 and 2.

In other words, the ratio of the 50% elongation force of the at least one upper panel, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1: 2005, in a direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening, on that in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening, may be greater than 1, and preferably may be greater than 1 and less than or equal to 2.

Thus, the 50% elongation force of the material of the upper panel, in a direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening, is chosen greater than that in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening. Indeed, it appeared that the elasticity of the upper panel, in a direction parallel to the pocket opening, allows obtaining or improving the holding of the objects placed in the pocket, in particular during the game, while the elasticity of the upper panel, in a direction perpendicular to the pocket opening, allows facilitating the insertion and/or removal of the objects, in particular of the balls, in/from the pocket. Thus, the mechanical properties of the materials of the pocket are also along the direction in space.

Particularly, with woven materials, the upper panel can be positioned such that the warp yarns are oriented perpendicularly to the waist opening, that is to say vertically, and the weft yarns are oriented parallel to the waist opening, that is to say horizontally.

The 50% elongation force of the at least one upper panel, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1: 2005, in a direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening, may be between 7N and 15N.

In other words, the 50% elongation force of the at least one upper panel, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1: 2005, in a direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening, is greater than or equal to 7N and less than or equal to 15N.

Such a range of values of the 50% elongation force of the upper panel, in the direction parallel to the pocket opening, allowed observing a correct holding of the objects, in particular the balls, in the pocket during the game.

The 50% elongation force of the at least one upper panel, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1: 2005, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening, may be between 5N and 12N.

In other words, the 50% elongation force of the at least one upper panel, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1: 2005, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening, may be greater than or equal to 5N and less than or equal to 12N.

Such a range of values of the 50% elongation force of the upper panel, in the direction perpendicular to the pocket opening, allowed observing an easy use of placement or removal of objects, in particular balls, in/from the pocket.

The at least one upper panel may include a mesh fabric, or may be made of mesh fabric.

The mesh fabric, or net fabric, allows giving an aesthetic appearance to the bottom clothing, compared to the waist part. In particular, it allows the pocket to be identified relative to the waist part of the bottom clothing, while remaining discreet.

The pocket may include or is devoid of elastic means mounted along the free edge of the at least one upper panel.

The pocket may or may not include an elastic means, for example an elastic band, along the free edge of the at least one upper panel. Such an elastic means allows improving the holding of the ball in the pocket during the game, or the maintenance of the at least one upper panel along the waist part when the pocket is empty, for aesthetic purposes. However, such an elastic means is not necessary insofar as the elastic properties of the panels forming the pocket have been chosen specifically to allow a ball to be held in the pocket or to allow the empty pocket to remain pressed against the waist part.

The pocket may include at least one, for example three stitches, connecting the free edge of the at least one upper panel and the waist part.

The stitches allow reducing the length of the free edge between the points of connection with the waist part. Thus, the stitches facilitate the correct placement of the at least one upper panel relative to the waist part, which also improves the holding of the ball in the pocket or the maintenance of the empty pocket on the waist part.

The stitches connecting the free edge of the at least one upper panel and the waist part may be positioned symmetrically relative to a sagittal plane of the bottom clothing.

A symmetrical pocket on the user's back is thus obtained, allowing him to use it equally with the right hand or the left hand.

The at least one upper panel may be mounted, for example sewn, on the waist part along three edges: an upper edge and two side end edges.

The pocket then opens only along the lower edge, that is to say from below.

The at least one upper panel may include an upper edge mounted along the waist opening of the bottom clothing, and/or side end edges mounted in the front plane of the bottom clothing or on the front part of the bottom clothing.

The upper panel, and hence the pocket, may form together with the waist part the waist opening of the bottom clothing. The pocket is thus positioned at the upper end of the bottom clothing, at the level of the waistband of the bottom clothing.

The pocket may be positioned in a portion of the bottom clothing forming the waistband.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a bottom clothing according to the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the bottom clothing of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a close-up rear view of the bottom clothing of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a close-up front view of the bottom clothing of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 5 represents an illustration of the bottom clothing of FIG. 1, when the user inserts a ball into the pocket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate, back and front, a bottom clothing 1, in this case trousers 1, in accordance with the disclosure.

Alternatively, the bottom clothing can be leggings, a capri, capri trousers, shorts, boyshorts, Bermuda shorts or a skirt with or without integrated boyshorts.

The trousers 1 include a waist part 2 and two leg parts 4, 6. The waist part 2 has the shape of a pant. The waist part 2 includes an upper end defining a waist opening 8 and a lower end delimiting, in this case, two openings 10, 12 for the passage of the user's legs. The leg parts 4, 6 are of tubular shape and are mounted on the openings 10, 12 of the waist part 2.

The leg part 4 thus includes an upper end corresponding to the opening 10 of the waist part 2, and a lower end corresponding to a first leg opening 14. The leg part 6 includes an upper end corresponding to the opening 12 of the waist part 2, and a lower end corresponding to a second leg opening 16.

The bottom clothing 1 can be formed of one or several panels, and may be made of compressive materials, in particular compressive fabrics, that is to say the bottom clothing 1 is stretchable and is patterned so as to have a narrower shape when it is not worn than when it is worn by the user. Such a compressive bottom clothing allows the user to better feel the different parts of his body which are covered and tightened by the bottom clothing 1.

The trousers 1 are in particular intended for the practice of a sport, and more particularly for the practice of tennis, thanks to the presence of a pocket 18 configured to accommodate one or several balls.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pocket 18 is formed by at least one upper panel 20, in this case a single upper panel 20, covering a portion 22 of the waist part.

The upper panel 20 may have a generally rectangular shape with an upper edge 20 a, a lower edge 20 b and two side edges 20 c and 20 d. The upper panel 20 is mounted on the waist part 2, along and parallel to a portion of the upper end of the waist part 2. Particularly, the upper panel 20 is attached, for example sewn, to the waist part 2 along the upper edge 20 a and both side edges 20 c and 20 d. In other words, the upper edge 20 a of the upper panel 20, and therefore of the pocket 18, extends along the waist opening 8 of the trousers 1.

Thus, the pocket 18 extends substantially parallel to the waist opening 8 and opens from below, that is to say on the side opposite the waist opening 8 of the trousers 1, via the lower edge 20 b of the upper panel 20 which is a free edge. The opening 24 of the pocket 18 therefore extends parallel to the waist opening 8 but is oriented downwards, that is to say towards the lower openings 10, 12. The pocket 18 is therefore positioned at the level of the waistband of the trousers 1 and is visually integrated therein.

The upper panel 20, and therefore the pocket 18, can extend only in the posterior or back part of the trousers 1, or can overlap, through its ends, the front part of the trousers 1. Thus, the side edges 20 c and 20 d of the upper panel 20 can be attached on the waist part 2, on the front side of the trousers 1, that is to say beyond the front plane of the trousers 1.

Furthermore, and in order to improve the maintenance of the upper panel 20 on the waist part 2, as well as the holding of the balls in the pocket 18, the lower edge 20 b of the upper panel 20 can also be attached to the waist part 2 by stitches 26, for example a stitch 26 a disposed at an equal distance from the side edges 20 c, 20 d of the upper panel 20. Alternatively, and as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lower edge 20 b can be attached by three stitches: a central stitch 26 a disposed at equal distance from the side edges 20 c, 20 d of the upper panel 20, and two stitches 26 b disposed laterally on each side of the central stitch 26 b between the latter and the side edges 20 c, 20 d of the upper panel 20.

The pocket 18 can also include an elastic means 28, for example an elastic band, mounted along the lower edge 20 b of the upper panel 20, that is to say along the free edge of the pocket 18. The elastic means 28 can improve the maintenance and the holding of the pocket 18.

However, such an elastic means 28 is optional and the pocket 18 can be devoid of it. Indeed, the upper panel 20 being made of compressive material, it can exert, by itself, a pressure on the objects positioned in the pocket 18 in order to hold them therein.

The upper panel 20 is also made of compressive material, for example compressive fabric. The upper panel 20 may be made of mesh fabric.

In the following description, it will be considered that the fabric of the covered portion 22 of the waist part 2 and the upper panel 20 are mounted on the trousers 1 such that the warp yarns are oriented vertically when the trousers 1 is worn by the user, and the weft yarns are oriented horizontally.

As indicated above, and in order to allow the holding of the objects in the pocket 18, the upper panel 20 is made of compressive material, and may be made of compressive mesh. Thus, the mesh fabric of the upper panel 20 can be chosen with specific elasticity properties to improve the maintenance of the pocket 18.

In the example described here, the upper panel may be a mesh fabric D201, for example when the bottom clothing 1 is a leggings, or a mesh fabric D331, for example when the bottom clothing 1 is a capri.

In the case of leggings for example, the mesh fabric may have a 50% elongation force, in the direction of the warp yarns, greater than or equal to 8 N and less than or equal to 9 N, for example of an average value equal to 8.3 N.

Likewise, the mesh fabric may have a 50% elongation force, in the direction of the weft yarns, greater than or equal to 12.5 N and less than or equal to 13.5 N, for example of an average value equal to 13.1 N.

In the case of capri for example, the mesh fabric can present a 50% elongation force, in the direction of the warp yarns, greater than or equal to 7.2 N and less than or equal to 8.2 N, for example of an average value equal to 7.7 N.

Likewise, the mesh fabric may have a 50% elongation force, in the direction of the weft yarns, greater than or equal to 7.5 N and less than or equal to 9.5 N, for example of an average value equal to 8.9 N.

The choice of such elastic properties aims in particular to facilitate the insertion and removal of a ball in/from the pocket 18, as illustrated in FIG. 5, while ensuring its holding in the pocket 18 during the game.

The material of the bottom clothing 1 is also chosen so as to obtain the desired properties for the pocket 18.

Thus, the panel(s) of the waist part 2 of the leggings or capri can have a 50% elongation force, in the direction of the warp yarns, greater than or equal to 5.6 N and less than or equal to 6.6 N, for example of an average value equal to 6.1 N.

Likewise, the panel(s) of the waist part 2 of the leggings or capri can have a 50% elongation force, in the direction of the weft yarns, greater than or equal to 7.7 N and less than or equal to 9.2 N, for example of an average value equal to 8.6 N.

Thus, thanks to the bottom clothing according to the present disclosure, and particularly thanks to the different materials, with specific elastic properties, for the panels of the pocket, it is possible to obtain a comfortable and compressive clothing adapted to the practice of a sport, including a pocket easy to use which guarantees a good holding of the objects which are placed therein during the practice of the sport. 

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A bottom clothing, in particular for the practice of a sport and more particularly for the practice of tennis, comprising: a waist part formed by one or several panels and including: an upper end delimiting a waist opening, and a lower end delimiting at least one opening for passage of a user's legs, and a pocket formed by at least one upper panel mounted on said waist part and covering a portion of said waist part, the pocket being accessible through an opening and positioned in a portion of the bottom clothing forming a waistband, wherein the pocket opening extends substantially parallel to said waist opening, and is oriented towards the lower end of the waist part, wherein said at least one upper panel and the waist part portion covered by said at least one upper panel are made of compressive materials and have an elasticity which is different.
 12. The bottom clothing according to claim 11, wherein said at least one upper panel and the waist part portion covered by said at least one upper panel have a 50% elongation force and the ratio of the 50% elongation force, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1: 2005, in one or more of a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening and a direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening of said at least one upper panel over that of the portion of said waist part, is comprised between 1 and
 5. 13. The bottom clothing according to claim 11, wherein said at least one upper panel has a 50% elongation force and the ratio of the 50% elongation force of said at least one upper panel, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1: 2005, in one or more of a direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening and a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening, is greater than
 1. 14. The bottom clothing according to claim 11, wherein said at least one upper panel has a 50% elongation force and the 50% elongation force of said at least one upper panel, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1: 2005, in a direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening, is comprised between 7N and 15N.
 15. The bottom clothing according to claim 11, wherein said at least one upper panel has a 50% elongation force and the 50% elongation force of said at least one upper panel, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1: 2005, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening, is comprised between 5N and 12N.
 16. The bottom clothing according to claim 11, wherein said at least one upper panel comprises a mesh fabric.
 17. The bottom clothing according to claim 11, wherein the pocket comprises or is devoid of elastic means mounted along the free edge of said at least one upper panel.
 18. The bottom clothing according to claim 11, wherein the pocket comprises at least one stitch connecting a portion of the free edge of said at least one upper panel and the waist part.
 19. The bottom clothing according to claim 11, wherein said at least one upper panel is mounted on the waist part along an upper edge and two side end edges.
 20. The bottom clothing according to claim 11, wherein said at least one upper panel includes one or more of an upper edge mounted along the waist opening of the bottom clothing and side end edges mounted in the front plane of the bottom clothing or on the front part of the bottom clothing.
 21. The bottom clothing according to claim 11, wherein the waist part includes two openings for passage of a user's legs.
 22. The bottom clothing according to claim 11, wherein the pocket is configured to retain at least one tennis ball.
 23. The bottom clothing according to claim 11, wherein said at least one upper panel and the waist part portion covered by said at least one upper panel have an elasticity which is different in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening.
 24. The bottom clothing according to claim 11, wherein the opening of the pocket is delimited by a free edge of said at least one upper panel.
 25. The bottom clothing according to claim 11, wherein said at least one upper panel and the waist part portion covered by said at least one upper panel have a 50% elongation force which is different.
 26. The bottom clothing according to claim 11, wherein said at least one upper panel and the waist part portion covered by said at least one upper panel have a 50% elongation force, which is different in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening.
 27. The bottom clothing according to claim 12, wherein the ratio of the 50% elongation force, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1: 2005, in one or more of the direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening and the direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening of said at least one upper panel over that of the portion of said waist part, is comprised between 1.2 and
 3. 28. The bottom clothing according to claim 13, wherein the ratio of the 50% elongation force of said at least one upper panel, measured according to standard NF EN 14704-1: 2005, in one or more of the direction substantially parallel to the pocket opening and the direction substantially perpendicular to the pocket opening, is comprised between 1 and
 2. 29. The bottom clothing according to claim 18, wherein the pocket comprises three stitches connecting the portion of the free edge of said at least one upper panel and the waist part. 